This is a guest post by Jenn Baxter, a Tiny Transition and Downsizing student and now tiny house dweller. Jenn began her journey in the Tiny Transition and Downsizing course, and now lives full-time in her very own (very cute!) tiny home!

Downsizing is no easy task.

We all have become so accustomed to having so much stuff, that we don’t even realize how much we’ve acquired over time until we are forced to a) move it or b) take an objective look at it.

When I decided to build a tiny house, I knew I had some downsizing to do. I had, after all, filled a mid-sized U-Haul truck all by myself the last time I moved. Like most people, I had a bedroom full of furniture, a dining set, living room furniture, a second bedroom set in the guest bedroom, several Rubbermaid bins full of keepsakes, kitchen appliances, luggage, sporting equipment and on and on it went.

We all have become so accustomed to having so much stuff, that we don’t even realize how much we’ve acquired over time until we are forced to a) move it or b) take an objective look at it.

— Jenn

But I was still surprised at just how much I had when I had to think of it in terms of 144 square feet.

Trying to do everything all at once can be overwhelming at best and paralyzing at worst.

By breaking up the task into smaller chunks, it will seem less impossible.

And since your house is already divided into rooms, you’ve got a game plan already set for you!

Take each room one at a time, tackling the belongings in each one before moving on to the next. Don’t rush, take your time and be gracious with yourself. Getting rid of your belongings can be very challenging, especially if they hold sentimental or emotional value.

The key is to be realistic.

Don’t hold on to something because you might use/need it.

Don’t hold on to something because you want to use it one day.

Don’t hold on to something because you used to use/need it.

Be honest. Think about whether you really use or need something on a daily basis. If you don’t, get rid of it. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did!

Think about whether you really use or need something on a daily basis.

— Jenn

If you hesitate at the idea of dropping all of your unwanted stuff off at Goodwill… there are lots of other options!

You can sell items on Craigslist or eBay, give them to friends or family members or donate them to homeless or abused women’s shelters.

Just get rid of it.

Here are some tips for getting through each room of your house. Remember, these are just suggestions.

Only you know what will work best for you. But be honest and be brave!

Free yourself from your stuff!

Kitchen

The kitchen can be a breeding ground for junk. With a plethora of gadgets and gizmos available for every single task, it’s easy to find your drawers and cabinets overflowing with things you don’t use. But when it comes down to it, how many of these do you really need?

First, get rid of all the single-use appliances that only do one thing.

This can include things like:

Ice cream maker

Popcorn popper

Yogurt machine

Waffle iron

Rice cooker

Bread machine

Get rid of all of the single-use appliances that only do one thing

Then, get rid of all your duplicates.

You don’t need two colanders, two crock pots, five spatulas, three pairs of tongs and three pitchers. You need ONE of each one of these. Yes, even the spatulas. If it gets dirty and you need to use it again, that’s what soap and water are for.

Living Room

In the living room, we tend to accumulate things like music, books, DVD’s and video games. They are all great forms of entertainment and are each okay in their own right. But if not careful, they can grow like weeds.

Go through each book, each movie, each CD, each DVD/Blu-Ray disc and each video game. IF you keep them, only keep the ones that you really use or watch regularly.

Not the ones that you might watch or watch once in a while.

An even better option is to go digital.

Purchase the movies you want on iTunes or watch them on Netflix or Hulu.

Buy digital copies of your favorite books on a Kindle or the Kindle app for your phone.

You can still have all of your favorite forms of entertainment without all the bulk.

Bathroom

The bathroom is another breeding ground for unused stuff. How does that cabinet under the sink get so full anyway?

Some things you can get rid of right off the bat:

Expired OTC and prescription medications

Half-full bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, etc.

Expired sunscreen or bug spray

Hardened bottles of nail polish

Old make-up products and brushes

Medicines or vitamins you no longer need or take

If you have products like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, shave cream or cosmetic items that are still good and/or are unopened, donate them to those that need them like a homeless or domestic abuse shelter.

You should also get rid of small appliances that you don’t use regularly like hot rollers, straightening irons, steamers or water piks. If you don’t use them every day, they are just taking up space and you don’t need to keep them.

 If you don’t use them every day, they are just taking up space and you don’t need to keep them.

Bedroom

The biggest thing to downsize in most of our bedrooms is the closet.

It has been said that most people only wear 20% of their wardrobe and when you set out to downsize your closet, you will find this to be true. (If you don’t believe me, pay attention next time you do your laundry – it’s the same items every week!)

Some things to get rid of here:

Clothes that are too small or too big for you

Clothes that have holes or stains

Shoes that have holes or are falling apart

Clothes that you haven’t worn in the last six months (or last year if they’re out of season)

Clothes that can only be worn for a single purpose

Duplicate items

Again, the key is to be honest with yourself.

Don’t get caught up in being nostalgic or starting to think “Oh, I might wear that!” If you don’t wear it on a regular basis, get rid of it.

The rest of the house

There will be lots more rooms to go through and lots more stuff to downsize, but this will get you off to a great start.